McLaren MP4-31 launch

prisonermonkeys

prisonermonkeys

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So, it's 11:00am AEDST, which means that it's about 1:00am GMT - the perfect time to launch a new car!

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Definitely a big change to the nose this year, with the sharply-angled bend - but the big question is whether the RA616H will be any better than last year's engine.
 
@prisonermonkeys 0000 actually :D
Hmmm... interesting angle on the nose. Still keeping everything rather slim I see, like they said they planned.
 
They've definitely kept the size zero approach, and the packaging looks like it could even be tighter than the MP4-30; the shape of the red swishes on top of the sidepods looks a little crooked because of the shape.
 
Let's see if they can improve on their 27 points from last year.
 
The prongs on the nose seem odd too, and I don't know whether it is the colour or not but the airbox looks a little longer than it was
 
Looks good, but is it fast? 💡 Hopefully this year the MP4-31 can be an F1 car...and not a GP2+ car. :O

Seriously though that's a nice looking car, that slim shape is very interesting and unique. 👍

EDIT: Are those 5 spoke wheels?! :drool:
 
Looks great, was hoping for a different livery, but the black and red is still good. Hopefully it can get a few podiums and maybe a win this year.
 
Question is, is that another testing livery or is it the final one? Because yet again, it's severely lacking in design elements.
 
prisonermonkeys
1:00am GMT - the perfect time to launch a new car!
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They were hoping no one would notice!

And to think only a few years ago they released cars at big fancy events in Germany including the time they brought all the parts in and assembled the car in front of a crowd (2011).
 
Robin.
They were hoping no one would notice!
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They probably know that a lot of media attention will be on Haas later tonight.

Robin.
And to think only a few years ago they released cars at big fancy events in Germany including the time they brought all the parts in and assembled the car in front of a crowd
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I think those big, extravagant launches were a product of their time, and I don't think there's really a place for them anymore. Personally, I prefer the online launches - just get the drivers to unveil it on-srage.
 
Mercedes still think there is a space for faffing around though. Their latest reveal being a damn drawing of it.
 
Samus
Their latest reveal being a damn drawing of it.
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I think you give them too much credit - it was a drawing of the rear end, an area notorious for being kept concealed because of the aero solutions. Teams usually launch with an old diffuser.
 
Donno about you, but I saw merc's car on their twitter long before the drawing. There's at least 3 or 4 videos of it. These launches are sad compared to what they were just 5, 6 years ago.

I like Mac's chances this year. Honda aren't going to flop (too hard) twice. The turbo and hybrid components had to change. That wasn't possible last year with the token system. I predict a podium or two.
 
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A lot to see around the nose developments, but any aero changes are pretty insignificant without a decent engine to challenge - I'd like to say for wins, but I'll accept challenging for points is more realistic
 
The livery and aesthetic are something I'd expect from Manor. Hopefully they've spent their time and money with the engine, then.
 
prisonermonkeys
I think you give them too much credit - it was a drawing of the rear end, an area notorious for being kept concealed because of the aero solutions. Teams usually launch with an old diffuser.
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Or no diffuser as Ferrari, RBR and McLaren have been known for.

trustjab
Donno about you, but I saw merc's car on their twitter long before the drawing. There's at least 3 or 4 videos of it. These launches are sad compared to what they were just 5, 6 years ago.

I like Mac's chances this year. Honda aren't going to flop (too hard) twice. The turbo and hybrid components had to change. That wasn't possible last year with the token system. I predict a podium or two.
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Really? They reworked the system, have more tokens now to fix problems. However, the sad reality is they are a few years behind in the technological gap of engines where Mercedes say they're not close to a diminishing return and Ferrari know they have room to grow so long as Mercedes don't hit a ceiling.

With all that said, Honda may be faster this year but it will take more than a winter and new components to catch the top two and their rear gunners. They're basically starting over, and people think because it's Honda there isn't any way they'll still have difficulty. I guess we all forgot Renault took two steps back on an already troublesome 2014, so Honda can't?
 
McLaren aren't loaded with cash or sponsorship, but Honda is all they really need.
 
trustjab
McLaren aren't loaded with cash or sponsorship
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Yes they are, and they don't need it.

They are loaded with cash; the racing team accounts for just a third of their income. The rest comes from car sales and their strategic partnerships with the likes of GSK.

They don't really need sponsorship - Ron Dennis, who pretty much invented title sponsorship and structuring teams around a corporate identity, says that the age of title sponsors is over. The sport is simply too expensive for a major sponsor to get involved like that anymore. Hence why he restructured the team around their road car division and strategic partnerships.
 
trustjab
McLaren aren't loaded with cash or sponsorship, but Honda is all they really need.
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Since when? They have one of the highest budgets on the grid. But money doesn't mean your partnership with a new manufacture is going to prove well first season back.
 
Looks like a midfield car, good to see McLaren dressing for the job they want. 👍
 
Meanwhile, the internet has gotten annoyed at the new numbering style, unaware that the car is meantto be viewed head-on.

LMSCorvetteGT2
money doesn't mean your partnership with a new manufacture is going to prove well first season back
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Especially when said manufacturer really needed an extra year of development.
 
That's a very tight rear end. The front wing looks interesting too.
 
F1GTR
Looks like a midfield car, good to see McLaren dressing for the job they want. 👍
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Exactly, performance or positioning aside it takes little effort to do a good livery. They should look like a top tier outfit and with this paintjob they look like a back marker. It's literally the laziest effort ever.
 
Let's hope it races better then it's back-marker livery looks.
 
Robin.
Exactly, performance or positioning aside it takes little effort to do a good livery. They should look like a top tier outfit and with this paintjob they look like a back marker. It's literally the laziest effort ever.
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Maybe it's an actual representation of their expectations for this season.
 
I think the livery is simple and effective. We've already seen what happens when teams try to be too elaborate - the SF16-H is a mess.
 
The only view the SF16-H doesn't really look that bad is the overhead view...too bad people don't watch F1 that way.
 
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